Bindeshwari Shah before taking her flight to Washington in 1961. Photo Courtesy: Santosh Khaderi
KATHMANDU: Bindeshwari Malla Shah, Nepal’s first female ambassador and a distinguished diplomat, passed away Thursday morning at her residence in Kalimati, Kathmandu. She was 92.
She is remembered not only for being the country’s first female ambassador but also for her remarkable contributions to Nepal’s diplomatic sphere. Diplomats and leaders, both domestic and international, acknowledge her exceptional ability to elevate Nepal’s diplomatic standing on the global stage.
In 1988, while serving as a joint secrtary in the foreign ministry, Shah made history when King Birendra appointed her as Nepal’s Ambassador to India. She presented her credentials to then-Indian President R. Venkataraman on April 18, 1988. It is said that Venkataraman who welcomed her as “Nepal’s first female ambassador to India”. Her tenure coincided with India’s economic blockade of Nepal in 1989. She earned widespread acclaim for her role in removing the blockade and in normalizing relations between the two countries.
Shah entered Nepal’s foreign service as a section officer in late 1959 after two failed attempts. Seasoned diplomats like Yadavkanta Silwal, Uddhab Dev Bhatta, Bishwa Pradhan, Bhanu Prasad Thapliya and Kedar Prasad Koirala were her batchmates. At the time, she was the only female officer in the foreign ministry. It wasn’t until 2010 that the number of women in Nepal’s foreign service began to increase significantly.
Shah returned from New Delhi in early 1991 after the restoration of democracy. She was promoted to Additional Secretary upon her return. Many say she would have become Nepal’s first female foreign secretary if it were not for the 30-year service limit. In a 2003 interview with The Rising Nepal, Shah had expressed her aspiration to become the country’s first female Chief of Protocol and Foreign Secretary.
It took 32 years after her retirement for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to finally appoint a female secretary. However, questions continue to arise about whether today’s diplomats have been able to follow in Shah’s footsteps and uphold her legacy.
Her diplomatic career began with a posting to the United States, where she worked with distinguished figures like Matrika Prasad Koirala and General Padam Bahadur Khatri.
Born in 1933 in Kurseong, India, Shah came from a family of intellectuals. Her father, Padma Sundar Malla, was forced to leave Nepal during the Rana regime despite his advanced education, including electrical engineering studies in Japan and graduation from the University of Mississippi.
Shah did her early schooling at St Helen’s School in Kurseong and made history as the first Nepali woman to graduate from an American university, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Barnard College, Columbia University in 1956. She went on to complete her Masters in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University in 1958.
She was married to Dr Narayan Keshari Shah – the brother of seasoned diplomat Rishikesh Shah.
Former Ambassador Dr Bhesh Bahadur Thapa remembers the crucial role played by Shah during her tenure as Ambassador to India. “Her presence as ambassador helped resolve many complicated issues and prevented others from escalating,” Dr Thapa said. “She was a diplomat of exceptional capability who reached her position through merit alone.”
Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, often referred to Shah as Nepal’s “brightest personality” and considered herself a fan of Shah’s diplomatic acumen and deep intellectual capacity.
Before her appointment as ambassador, Shah played a vital role in establishing diplomatic relations with Bangladesh after its independence. She was stationed in Dhaka during significant historical events, including the military uprising and the assassination of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Shah retired from service following the restoration of democracy in 1990. Had the 30-year service rule not been implemented, she might have become Nepal’s first female Foreign Secretary, a position that would only be filled by a woman 32 years after her retirement.
Bindeshwari Malla Shah leaves behind a legacy as not just Nepal’s first female ambassador, but as one of the nation’s most capable and respected diplomats. Her passing marks the end of an era in Nepal’s diplomatic history.
